While some of us would like to have a cause of weight problems other than overconsumption and under-exertion, the thyroid is a source for many metabolic problems for many frustrated people. The thyroid gland is located on the front part of the neck below the thyroid cartilage and produces thyroid hormones, which regulate body metabolism, as well as regulate body energy, the body’s use of other hormones and vitamins, and the growth and maturation of body tissues.
Hypothyroidism is a disease in which the thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone. Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism are often subtle but steadily progressive. The result of not being able to convert fuel into energy means that a person gains weight, feels fatigued and depressed, and has a sluggish digestive system with chronic constipation.
It can be a struggle to treat the symptoms of any thyroid condition, since thyroid conditions aren’t well-understood or easy to treat. There are many medical treatments to control thyroid symptoms, but it may be an uphill battle that you will be fighting long after your symptoms have been controlled with medication. Some people think of problems of the thyroid as a general problem of toxicity.
Alternate treatments like massage could be an appropriate choice for someone suffering with hypothyroidism, partially because massage can improve the quality of life of people who feel chronically drained. For many patients who are struggling to gain control over their weight, massage therapy can be extremely helpful. Massage therapy can help in the removal of toxins accumulated in a person dealing with a hypothyroid.
A skilled massage therapist can do much more than eliminate stress and work out knots; they can help boost the body’s natural healing abilities. Michael Greenspan of Massage Revolution in Manhattan Beach, CA shares his experience helping a patient heal from thyroid complications.
“One specific instance stands out when I helped a client lose 30 pounds. Her thyroid shut down after a whiplash from a car accident. All her neck muscles were so tight they caused her to become hypothyroid. Over a number of sessions, I released all her neck muscles that shut down her thyroid, which then allowed her thyroid to return to balance.”
While it’s vitally important that you adhere closely to the regimen of prescription medication your doctor has established for you, you may find that looking for other options to supplement your ongoing medical treatment can help you regain a sense of wellness. Make sure you tell your therapist about your thyroid condition before your first session so they can plan a treatment sequence based on your unique profile.
We’ve all heard someone say that their [insert body part here] is not what it used to be. As we age our bodies feel the test of time and pain is, unfortunately, a common symptom of growing old. Almost 80-85% of people past the age of 65 
experience some form of pain. Pain in the elderly is usually treated with drug therapy, but with the often complex combination of drugs a person can be on, seeking alternatives or aides for painkillers could be beneficial. Alternative therapies like massage is being more widely accepted and, in some cases, is replacing drugs to relieve pain.
Marika Eckhardt of 
“One day I was just about leaving in the evening when the front desk attendant rushed to me and asked me if I could give a 15 minute reflexology on a client’s back. I immediately went to meet her. She was an older lady with a cane in her right hand and appeared fragile. She told me she was in so much pain she could hardly walk. I instructed her to lay down and I noticed how tight she held her body and her breathing was extremely shallow. It was obvious that her body was under tremendous stress. After feeling her back I realized her back muscles were so tight that they were probably constricting all the nerves in her spine, which was the cause of all the pain. I started by asking her to breathe deeply all the way down to her diaphragm while giving her gentle friction with my thumbs along the sides of the spine. I was able to slowly release the tension even in her gluts. Thirty minutes later I helped her get up from the table and I noticed immediately how bright she looked, she looked at me and said she felt so good. There was hardly any wobble as she walked out of the room. She was back next day.”
A massage therapist needs to be sensitive to health conditions of a person in order to be effective. When a therapist considers elders’ unique needs, a massage can improve their physical and emotional well-being, and emotionally, a massage can become an anticipated and cherished part of their life.
Every weekday morning, viewers tune in across America to catch ABC’s round table style talk show, “The View.” If you’ve watched before, you know the most popular aspect of the show is the Hot Topics. Viewers listen intently and formulate their own opinions based on the thoughts of 5 very influential women: Sherri Shephard, Elizabeth Hasselback, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, and Whoopi Goldberg. Since the show first aired in 1997, no topic has ever been off limits–they’ve discussed everything under the sun from politics to infidelity. 
